MORRISTOWN — A state appeals court ruled today that a Morristown Department of Public Works employee who swallowed heroin when he was arrested must give up his public job.

Jerome Kennedy, now 52, of Morristown, was charged with possession of heroin, tampering with evidence, conspiracy to possess heroin and hindering his own apprehension following the incident on Dec. 6, 2008.

Under a plea arrangement with the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Kennedy pleaded guilty only to the tampering charge, and the other charges were dismissed in Superior Court in Morristown on May 26, 2010. Kennedy admitted he had just purchased the heroin he swallowed and was sentenced to three years’ probation.

The Superior Court judge determined that tampering with physical evidence is not “an offense involving dishonesty” and therefore Kennedy was not required to give up his public job.

The prosecutor’s office appealed that ruling and the appeals court decided in favor of the prosecutor, ruling that tampering with physical evidence is an offense involving dishonesty.

In a statement, Morris Prosecutor Robert Bianchi commented, “To hold a public job is a privilege, and with it there is a responsibility to perform one’s duties to the best of one’s ability with honor and integrity. We are pleased that the court agreed with our position that the defendant’s conviction warranted forfeiture of his public job.”